Millimeter wave antenna management

Abstract

A mobile electronic communications device performs millimeter wave antenna management for one of a plurality of mm-wave antennas by determining via a sensor array whether a human presence exists at the one of the mm-wave antennas and determining whether one or more others of the plurality of mm-wave antennas on the device are in use, or enabled. The mm-wave antenna of in question is managed by selectively enabling or disabling it based on the above determination.

We claim: 
     
       1. A mobile electronic communications device having millimeter-wave (mm-wave) antenna management, the mobile electronic communications device comprising:
 a plurality of mm-wave antennas on the device, including a first mm-wave antenna and one or more other mm-wave antennas; 
 a sensor array associated with the first mm-wave antenna, the sensor array including at least one sensor, the at least one sensor having a detection range; 
 a mm-wave transceiver configured to transmit via enabled ones the plurality of mm-wave antennas; and 
 a processor configured to determine via the sensor array whether a human presence exists within the detection range and to determine whether any of the one or more other mm-wave antennas on the device are enabled, and to selectively enable and disable the first mm-wave antenna based on whether a human presence exists within the detection range and whether any of the one or more other mm-wave antennas on the device are enabled. 
 
     
     
       2. The mobile electronic communications device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to selectively enable and disable the first mm-wave antenna by first disabling the first mm-wave antenna, and thereafter determining whether a human presence exists within the detection range, using a first confidence level if any of the one or more other mm-wave antennas is in use, and otherwise using a second confidence level, the second confidence level being lower than the first confidence level. 
     
     
       3. The mobile electronic communications device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein enabling the first mm-wave antenna includes enabling the first mm-wave antenna at a reduced transmission power. 
     
     
       4. The mobile electronic communications device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein enabling the first mm-wave antenna includes steering a transmission pattern associated with the first mm-wave antenna. 
     
     
       5. The mobile electronic communications device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein selectively enabling and disabling the first mm-wave antenna includes:
 detecting a human presence within the detection range of the first mm-wave antenna via the thermal sensor; 
 disabling the first mm-wave antenna and freezing a baseline of the sensor associated with the first mm-wave antenna; 
 detecting that the detected human presence is no longer within the detection range; and 
 enabling the first mm-wave antenna. 
 
     
     
       6. The mobile electronic communications device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an inertial sensor and wherein the processor is further configured to confirm lack of human presence within the detection range via the inertial sensor by sensing that the mobile electronic communications device is lying in a flat position. 
     
     
       7. The mobile electronic communications device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the sensor array associated with the first mm-wave antenna includes a capacitive sensor. 
     
     
       8. A method for managing usage of a first millimeter-wave (mm-wave) on a mobile electronic communications device having a plurality of mm-wave antennas, the method comprising:
 detecting a change in capacitance near the first mm-wave antenna that is consistent with a human presence; 
 determine whether one or more other mm-wave antennas on the device are in use and thereafter determining whether a human presence exists at the first mm-wave antenna by applying a first confidence level if one or more other mm-wave antennas on the device are in use, and otherwise applying a second confidence level, the second confidence level being lower than the first confidence level. 
 
     
     
       9. The method in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein determining whether a human presence exists at the first mm-wave antenna further includes determining via an inertial sensor whether the mobile electronic communications device is lying still and flat. 
     
     
       10. The method in accordance with  claim 8 , further comprising implementing a measurement period delay prior to determining whether a human presence exists at the first mm-wave antenna. 
     
     
       11. A mobile electronic communications device having millimeter-wave (mm-wave) antenna management, the mobile electronic communications device comprising:
 a plurality of mm-wave antennas on the device, including a first mm-wave antenna and one or more other mm-wave antennas; 
 a sensor set including at least one of an inertial sensor and a capacitive sensor; and 
 a processor configured to determine whether a human presence exists at the first mm-wave antenna using the sensor set, to determine whether any of the one or more other mm-wave antennas on the device are enabled, and to selectively enable and disable the first mm-wave antenna based on whether a human presence exists at the first mm-wave antenna and on whether any of the one or more other mm-wave antennas on the device are enabled. 
 
     
     
       12. The mobile electronic communications device in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to selectively enable and disable the first mm-wave antenna by using a first confidence level to determine whether a human presence exists at the first mm-wave antenna if any of the one or more other mm-wave antennas is in use, and otherwise by using a second confidence level to determine whether a human presence exists at the first mm-wave antenna, the second confidence level being lower than the first confidence level. 
     
     
       13. The mobile electronic communications device in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein enabling the first mm-wave antenna includes enabling the first mm-wave antenna at a reduced transmission power. 
     
     
       14. The mobile electronic communications device in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein enabling the first mm-wave antenna includes selectively steering a transmission pattern associated with the first mm-wave antenna. 
     
     
       15. The mobile electronic communications device in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein selectively enabling and disabling the first mm-wave antenna includes:
 detecting a human presence at the first mm-wave antenna; 
 disabling the first mm-wave antenna; 
 determining that the human presence is no longer detected at the first mm-wave antenna; and 
 enabling the first mm-wave antenna. 
 
     
     
       16. The mobile electronic communications device in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the sensor set includes the inertial sensor and wherein detecting a human presence at the first mm-wave antenna using the sensor set includes determining that the mobile electronic communications device is lying flat and still.